Desmond Junior Rudolph

 Desmond Junior Rudolph, the son of Hilmer and Lorena (Borkowski) Rudolph, was born October 4, 1937, in Greene County near Jefferson, Iowa and died January 17, 2024, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 86 years, 3 months, and 13 days.

Desmond was baptized and confirmed at the Trinity Lutheran Church northwest of Audubon Iowa. He attended rural school, then helped operate the family farm.

On April 2, 1958, he was united in marriage to Carolyn Kay Clark at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. They were blessed with eight children Pam, Alan, Jim, Mike, Christy, Peggy, Randy and Dennis. He farmed with his father and then farmed the family farm on his own until he retired.

Desmond was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. He enjoyed attending the Audubon County Fair and was the Superintendent of maintenance and rabbits and poultry.

Preceding him in death were his sons Jimmy Dean Rudolph and Michael Lynn Rudolph; his parents; Hilmer and Lorena Rudolph; his in-laws Helen and Dean Clark; and his brothers-in-law Larry Dunlop, Curtis Petersen, Mike Greve and Ray Flathers

Survivors include his wife Kay Rudolph of Audubon, Iowa; his children Pam and husband Dennis Orndorf of Chariton, Iowa; Alan Rudolph of Villisca, Iowa; Christy and husband Mark Martens of Wiota, Iowa; Peggy and husband Jim VonAhn of Sac City, Iowa; Randy Rudolph and Melanie Jensen of Audubon, Iowa and, Dennis and wife Heather Rudolph of Altoona, Iowa; his grandchildren Blake and wife Hailey Paige, Brett and wife Kari Paige and Brad Paige all of Chariton, Iowa; Shane Rudolph and Jessica Vogl of Atlantic, Iowa; Wendy and husband Brian Wittrock of Audubon, Iowa; Leslie Weitl of Florida; Danielle and husband Tanner Powers of Exira, Iowa; Brittany Rudolph and Tristan Wiles of Coon Rapids, Iowa; Courtney and husband Kyle Juelsgaard of Brayton, Iowa; Michael Rudolph of Alaska; Chelsy and husband Matt Scharn of Nemaha, Iowa; Eric and Katie Baumhover of LakeView, Iowa; Zach and wife Maclayn Baumhover of Auburn, Iowa; Damon and wife Samantha Rudolph and Dustin Rudolph all of Des Moines, Iowa and Desiree and husband Cody Kent of Wiota, Iowa; 23 great grandchildren; his brothers and sisters: Darlene and husband Bob Soll, Delrene Greve, Diana Deist of all of Audubon, Iowa, Dixie Petersen and Charlie Wheeler of Exira, Iowa; Dorothy and husband Bill Snyder of Woodbine, Iowa; Delmar Rudolph of Audubon, Iowa; Della and husband Larry Hinners of Manning, Iowa; and Dorris Flathers of Carroll, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

The family will meet for a visitation with friends on Monday afternoon, January 22, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa. Minister Jason Zaiger will have a few words. Inurnment will be in the Hamlin Lutheran Cemetery in Hamlin, Iowa at a later date. The honorary bearers will be Trent Petersen, Aaron Petersen, Kevin Flathers, Kendra Bladt, Dick Soll, Joe Dreher, Bob Soll and Eric Christoffersen.